Music can change
the world because it can change people
The arts are important for our mental health
You are not alone
High Notes Avante was awarded an Ontario Trillium Foundation seed grant to pilot the High Notes Music Program to grade 4 students at schools in York Region and to launch the High Notes Music Ensemble for musicians touched by mental illness.
We celebrated our 10th Anniversary with the world premiere of our mental health anthem WE ALL HAVE A STORY (Everyone’s Unique)-- performed by composer ALAN SHINER with NOVA SOUNDS & FRIENDS. Also with DAH HILL, RON KORB, MICHAEL BRIDGE, ERNESTO RAMIREZ, EVAN CARTER, JULIE YOUNG, SEBASTIAN HIRTENSTEIN, CHLOE WESTON, Luba Goy and Mayor David West from Richmond Hill and Mayor Frank Scarpitti from Markham -- at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts. Watch Gala Video here.
Our 6th (in-person) High Notes Gala for Mental Health took place at Flato Markham Theatre.
The High Notes Soiree at Heliconian Hall (with Luba Goy, Alan Shiner, Ernesto Ramirez, Iris Leck, David W Barber and Shulamit Mor) marked our first downtown Toronto concert.
Our pilot High Notes Music program offering FREE individual instruction on piano and guitar was launched in Richmond Hill (with help of a Quick Action grant).
Second Concert of Hope was released thanks to a Canada Council for the Arts Digital Now grant.
Concert of Hope was released in lieu of live concert due to pandemic.
During the Covid-19 pandemic The High Notes Choir, Movie Club and Book Club connected people and operated online via zoom.
We were approved for an Ontario Trillium Foundation seed grant for the High Notes Avante choirs.
The last of a series of intimate concerts and socials supported by grants from the City of Markham and Richmond Hill took place at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts. Other intimate concerts took place at Revera Retirement Home, Pearl Piano, Cosmo Music, the Steinway Gallery and Heintzman House.
The 5th High Notes Gala took place at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts. Participants included Lloyd Robertson, Michael Landsberg, Frank Horvat, Giles Tomkins, Orlando Da Silva and long term MC Luba Goy.
The second Social Concert featured pianist and composer Frank Horvat sharing his music and mental health story.
First High Notes Avante Social took place at Pearl Piano in Richmond Hill. Pianist and Psychoterapist, Paul Radkowski talked about and played music by composers who had a mental health story.
High Notes Avante received official charitable status retroactive to March 0f 2018.
Annual High Notes Galas for Mental Health were produced including the infamous “Half-gala” at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts on April 28, 2016. Fire forced us to cancel the show after intermission.
HIGH NOTES AVANTE PRODUCTIONS INC. was officially incorporated as a not-for profit organization in order to use the power of words and music to spread the message that it is possible to move forward on higher notes despite a past or existing mental health issue.
The first independent High Notes Gala was arranged by Ingrid Taheri at the Flato Markham Theatre with Jean Stilwell as host and a variety of performers and speakers participating. Positive feedback from this spurred the future.
